THOUSANDS of people flocked to a charitable foundation in Phuket City this week for a bag of rice and other useful gifts.
The gathering was a sign that, while Phuket may be prosperous in many ways, it is also home to many people who are a long way from being rich.
As a suburb of Phuket City, Poonpon, once renown for massage parlors and brothels, is being gentrified. Even the roads are now getting tarted up.
Within a short walk, you can find a mosque, a church, and sikh and hindu temples.
Poonpon also remains the headquarters for the Kusoldharm Phuket Foudation, a public benefit organisation whose volunteers help people in need in many ways.
Phuketwan saw Kusoldharm volunteers assisting earlier this year when the Moken village at Thachatchai lost 17 homes to a fire.
And when swimmers were needed help collect five drowned victims from a diving disaster off Patong, the Kusoldharm volunteers were the first to jump into the water.
A stack of coffins for the poor sit in one corner of the open courtyard at the foundation's building.
Last year, foundation president Chaloemkiat Ongjaroen said, there were 5000 bags of rice given away. The year before that, there were 3000.
This year, because times are extra tough, the courtyard was laden with 6000 bags of rice.
People queued outside from early in the morning. When the gates eventually opened, hundreds of people were massed there.
Navy guards were on duty to keep the lines orderly. The limit was one bag per person, and the bags went in just a few hours.
Mothers carried babes in arms to gain a second bag. Old ladies on sticks shuffled across the yard for an additional portion.
Ourtside, families pooled their bags and piled them into motorcycle sidecars.
With the bags came gifts of noodles and canned food, as well as fruit.
The faces, filing out, told the story. Phuket is not as prosperous as it often seems.
Another handout of rice is planned for November.
Phuket Ownership: Governor Admits to Concerns
Updating Report A newspaper report about foreign ownership on Phuket may have been exaggerated but the concerns are real and need to be resolved quickly to everyone's benefit.
Phuket Ownership: Governor Admits to Concerns
'I Was Drugged, Robbed,' says Phi Phi Visitor
Latest A British traveller believes he was drugged and robbed while on Phi Phi, adding another mystery on an island where the deaths of two young women remain unsolved.
'I Was Drugged, Robbed,' says Phi Phi Visitor
Phuket Tuk-Tuk Drivers Learning How to be Liked
Latest Phuket's Karon beach service industry receives some good advice and aims to please tourists so they come back. A celebrity television talking head leads the reformation.
Phuket Tuk-Tuk Drivers Learning How to be Liked
Laguna Phuket Says, 'Good Morning, Vietnam'
Latest Laguna Phuket and Banyan Tree are pioneering brands in Thailand that are now becoming pioneering brands as well in Vietnam. Multiplication is the name of the game.
Laguna Phuket Says, 'Good Morning, Vietnam'
MediaWATCH: Thais Own Phuket, says Land Office
News Digest Foreign ownership of Phuket officially rejected; Michael Jackson 'homicide'; Thailand out of recession; Shame for bad Brit tourists; Radisson hacked; Le Meridien trio surf heroes.
MediaWATCH: Thais Own Phuket, says Land Office
Human Rights a Key Issue for Asean in Hua Hin
Opinion/Analysis The treatment of the Rohingya by Thailand raises fresh questions about the country's attitude to human rights as Asean leaders get set to meet in Cha AmHua Hin
Human Rights a Key Issue for Asean in Hua Hin
Wanted: A Shipwreck for Every Phuket Beach
Photo Tribute Phuket's Sky Dive Reef has been destroyed but more attempts will be made to create artificial reefs off every Phuket beach, says the Thai Diving Association CEO.
Wanted: A Shipwreck for Every Phuket Beach
Burma Visa Runners Face Temperature Checks
Latest Phuket expats who cross to Victoria Point in Burma for visa renewals will find themselves subjected to a temperature check for reasons that so far remain a mystery.
Burma Visa Runners Face Temperature Checks
The gathering was a sign that, while Phuket may be prosperous in many ways, it is also home to many people who are a long way from being rich.
As a suburb of Phuket City, Poonpon, once renown for massage parlors and brothels, is being gentrified. Even the roads are now getting tarted up.
Within a short walk, you can find a mosque, a church, and sikh and hindu temples.
Poonpon also remains the headquarters for the Kusoldharm Phuket Foudation, a public benefit organisation whose volunteers help people in need in many ways.
Phuketwan saw Kusoldharm volunteers assisting earlier this year when the Moken village at Thachatchai lost 17 homes to a fire.
And when swimmers were needed help collect five drowned victims from a diving disaster off Patong, the Kusoldharm volunteers were the first to jump into the water.
A stack of coffins for the poor sit in one corner of the open courtyard at the foundation's building.
Last year, foundation president Chaloemkiat Ongjaroen said, there were 5000 bags of rice given away. The year before that, there were 3000.
This year, because times are extra tough, the courtyard was laden with 6000 bags of rice.
People queued outside from early in the morning. When the gates eventually opened, hundreds of people were massed there.
Navy guards were on duty to keep the lines orderly. The limit was one bag per person, and the bags went in just a few hours.
Mothers carried babes in arms to gain a second bag. Old ladies on sticks shuffled across the yard for an additional portion.
Ourtside, families pooled their bags and piled them into motorcycle sidecars.
With the bags came gifts of noodles and canned food, as well as fruit.
The faces, filing out, told the story. Phuket is not as prosperous as it often seems.
Another handout of rice is planned for November.
Phuketwan Phuket News
Phuket Ownership: Governor Admits to Concerns
Updating Report A newspaper report about foreign ownership on Phuket may have been exaggerated but the concerns are real and need to be resolved quickly to everyone's benefit.
Phuket Ownership: Governor Admits to Concerns
'I Was Drugged, Robbed,' says Phi Phi Visitor
Latest A British traveller believes he was drugged and robbed while on Phi Phi, adding another mystery on an island where the deaths of two young women remain unsolved.
'I Was Drugged, Robbed,' says Phi Phi Visitor
Phuket Tuk-Tuk Drivers Learning How to be Liked
Latest Phuket's Karon beach service industry receives some good advice and aims to please tourists so they come back. A celebrity television talking head leads the reformation.
Phuket Tuk-Tuk Drivers Learning How to be Liked
Laguna Phuket Says, 'Good Morning, Vietnam'
Latest Laguna Phuket and Banyan Tree are pioneering brands in Thailand that are now becoming pioneering brands as well in Vietnam. Multiplication is the name of the game.
Laguna Phuket Says, 'Good Morning, Vietnam'
MediaWATCH: Thais Own Phuket, says Land Office
News Digest Foreign ownership of Phuket officially rejected; Michael Jackson 'homicide'; Thailand out of recession; Shame for bad Brit tourists; Radisson hacked; Le Meridien trio surf heroes.
MediaWATCH: Thais Own Phuket, says Land Office
Human Rights a Key Issue for Asean in Hua Hin
Opinion/Analysis The treatment of the Rohingya by Thailand raises fresh questions about the country's attitude to human rights as Asean leaders get set to meet in Cha AmHua Hin
Human Rights a Key Issue for Asean in Hua Hin
Wanted: A Shipwreck for Every Phuket Beach
Photo Tribute Phuket's Sky Dive Reef has been destroyed but more attempts will be made to create artificial reefs off every Phuket beach, says the Thai Diving Association CEO.
Wanted: A Shipwreck for Every Phuket Beach
Burma Visa Runners Face Temperature Checks
Latest Phuket expats who cross to Victoria Point in Burma for visa renewals will find themselves subjected to a temperature check for reasons that so far remain a mystery.
Burma Visa Runners Face Temperature Checks
